The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) delegation, led by deputy chairman Sadir Durmaz, was welcomed by Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) lawmaker for Batman Mehmet Rustu Tiryaki.
“We want an era to come where we no longer talk about tears, blood, and death. An era where this country’s resources are spent on stability, not on weapons, war, and conflict,” Tiryaki said, according to Anadolu Agency.
He described the PKK’s congress last month as a “new phase” in the peace efforts. On May 12, the PKK announced the result of that congress - its intention to dissolve itself and end its four-decade armed conflict against the Turkish state, responding to a call from jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan to end the violence that has claimed around 40,000 lives and instead take the struggle for Kurdish rights into the political sphere.
Ankara has welcomed the move but expects concrete steps from the PKK, beginning with disarmament. The PKK expects Ankara to take legal and legislative steps to guide the peace process and cease military operations.
DEM Party is the main mediator of the talks, and its delegations have made several visits to Ocalan and relayed his messages. The talks were initiated by MHP leader Devlet Bahceli, who in October called on Ocalan to address the Turkish parliament and announce the PKK’s dissolution.
Tiryaki told the MHP delegation that the peace process “will create an atmosphere that opens the door to resolving other issues in Turkey as well.”
Durmaz called for a joint political effort to further the peace process.
“We hope that in the coming period, weapons will be laid down and surrendered. Efforts should be made to form a commission with the participation of all political parties,” he said, Anadolu reported.
“We all want to be freed from this great problem that has been chained to Turkey’s feet like shackles for 40 years,” he added.
Founded in 1978, the PKK initially sought an independent Kurdish state but later shifted its focus toward achieving broader political and cultural rights for Kurds in Turkey. The group has been labeled as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its allies.
